Checks and Balances
(State Civics CBA)

Big Picture:
The student will research an actual event and analyze how the system of checks and balances worked (or didn't work) in that particular instance. The research sources will be explained in an annotated bibliography, the research will be developed into a Position Paper (essay) and a visual (poster) showing the relationships specific to checks and balances and the student's event.

This assignment is the state's Classroom Based Assessment of your ability to think, research and write in way that shows
 you meet the state's standards. There is no WASL for History; this is it!

Please CAREFULLY read the following pieces of information that were prepared specifically to help you with this CBA.

INSTRUCTIONS w/Scoring Rubric You will likely want to print these 4 pages so you have the instructions and a checklist to make sure you answer all parts of the prompt.
SAMPLE ESSAYS w/comments Skim these essays and the scoring comments after each one so you have some ideas of good and bad work. Note that these samples include a final Works Cited. You will also need to turn in an Annotated Bibliography as part of the writing process.
HELPFUL LINKS AND GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS 9 pages of resources for researching as well as some very helpful graphic organizers to help you organize your research for the writing assignment. USE THIS!
HS LIBRARY This is the EASIEST place to do most of your research. This is also your best resource for the MLA format of the paper and the Works Cited.

Steps that are 100%, absolutely required for you to pass this assignment:

  1. A short (less than a page) proposal of your event. You are to list your topic, the places you know you can get research, some of the checks and balances you know exist with the event and a timeline to complete the project.
  2. An Annotated Bibliography should be turned in once you are done gathering your research (you might still need to read all of it, but this is for all that you have "collected). Sample Annotated Bibliography here...
  3. A properly formatted MLA Paper and Works Cited that addresses the prompt and required components from the Instructions.
  4. A copy of the rubric with student self-scoring.
  5. A poster that "shows" what the essay explains. It should use pictures, captions, color, arrows and other visual cues to show how the system of checks and balances played out during the event the student chose. It does not need to be fancy - it needs to be clear.

GRADING